मरीन ड्राइव - 1

अपनी छाती फ़ुला कर, कमर को ज़ोरों से कस कर,
वो तो हवाओं में अपनी दास्ताँ लिखने निकला था
अब समंदर के पानी में जूझ रहा था.. 
कभी आती लहर के ज़ोर पर उड़ने की कोशिश करता
या ही अपनी पीठ उस लहर पर टिका गोता लगाता,
उसे औंधे मुँह सतह पर पटक देती वो

एक गुब्बारा था, लुढक कर पाने में आ गिरा था.. 

पत्थरों के किनारे झूठे गिलासों और तैरती बोतलों के बीच
न जाने क्या ढूंढ रहा था?
चमकती लाइट्स, घोड़ा-गाड़ी और चना-जोर-गरम जैसा
वो भी तो मरीन ड्राइव की शान था -
लाल निक्कर, हरी टी-शर्ट में घूमे रहे
मशरुम कट बालों वाले उस बच्चे की घीली सी मुस्कान था!

मायूस कर उसको निकल गया होगा,
अपनी कमज़ोर सी रेशमी डोरी का झांसा देकर!

हवाओं में अपनी दास्ताँ लिखने निकला था!

डोलता हुआ किनारे पर पहुंचा ही था वो,
पत्थरों में अटक गया तो
शायद इस लड़के को उस पर तरस आ गया -
अपने नाख़ून से उसने उस गुब्बारे को फोड़ दिया!

Not Good

There was an uprising, if so we believe, somewhere in December 2012. Intellectuals were in divided opinions, some skeptical - others hopeful. Some backed the "People's Revolution" with not-ignoble facts like awareness, alertness, dutifulness, reaction etc. Some called it a sentiment overflow.. an in-vogue activity, a social media trend, a wave that shall pass.

That was 2012. 2013 was another year. The impact, the repercussions should have been felt in 2013.

There is certainly a different air among the people. When I open up for a discussion, and very very rarely do I, I feel the rage within the people. The anger is there. I have been a witness to a couple, and a part of three  incidents in the last two years itself where this rage has shown, for good.
Only, I pray - more of the former transforms into the latter - discussions to action. Most of the talk has been about what should be done to the culprits, and the blame on the governments. About time we started talking about what we should do. And then act upon it.


This, I don't want to say a word about. Only one thing, either this has to change, or everything will change. Enough said.

Happy New Year. I am not.

Being Nice!

It starts with a little small talk. They try to match your interests, even your excitement; making polite conversations that show their friendly intentions. And as soon as you get to know them more with time, you realize it was all just a bunch of lies. The person you grew fond of never existed. They just take a few days to open up. That protective shield for their true-self is now shattered! And talk of imbalance - They have 100 people like you they call friends, you have maybe 10 odd friends you never would call people! But what-the-heck, how do you complain? Hah! Afterall, they were just BEING NICE :-)

Need I say.. ADIOS!